Gareth Bale

Posted by Tomas on July 25th, 2019

The beginning of the end for Gareth Bale at Real Madrid can be pinpointed to a specific date: Sunday, 23 April 2017.

Real were top of La Liga, in hot pursuit of their first league and European Cup double since 1958, and hosting second-placed Barcelona. ufabet

A series of injuries had forced Bale in and out of the side over the previous months, restricting him to five league starts since the turn of the year. Manager Zinedine Zidane kept faith with the Welshman by selecting him against Barca, but the gamble did not pay off: Bale reinjured his calf and was substituted before half-time.

As well as sending Bale to the sidelines again, that game threw the title race wide open after Lionel Messi netted a stoppage-time winner. Zidane was under heavy pressure, and he responded with a significant tactical change.

Until then he had preferred a 4-3-3 formation, placing Bale (when available) on the right wing, Cristiano Ronaldo on the left and Karim Benzema through the middle. But with Bale absent and silverware at stake, Zidane hit upon a new approach for the crucial final stages of the campaign, employing Isco at the tip of a 4-4-2 midfield diamond as Ronaldo moved centrally alongside Benzema.